Re: Surgery & Breastfeeding

[Guest guest]

Dear Amy,

My son and daughter are now 9 & 7 and both were breastfed well into

toddlerhood. Even though your surgeon said that it is okay to nurse

after surgery, IMHO, since your daughter is now 15 months old, I

would concentrate on weaning her off the breast now. The reason I am

thinking this way is it would be easier for her to separate for

several days while you are hospitalized if she is not looking to the

breast for comfort, especially at bedtime. Also, when you come home,

your tummy may be sore and a toddler's weight against it will not be

very comfortable. I am also concerned about all of the drugs and

antibiotics, etc... that will be pumped into your system. Your body

needs all of its reserves to heal itself. Producing milk, even a

small amount, especially when you will probably be struggling to take

in enough water and nutrition for yourself is an unnecessary drain on

your system. I would also be concerned that since initially alot of

post-ops are in a state of semi-starvation/dehydration your milk may

not be the best for your baby. It is a tough decision to wean, but

now is probably the best time to do it.

Just my $.02 and IMHO.

Jane J.

Lap BPD/DS

April 26, 2001

Dr. Ren

[Guest guest]

Hi, this subject interested me. I am one of those vigilant

breastfeeding advocates, proudly. I would encourage a mom to go to

certain lengths to ensure a continued nursing relationship if it is

conducive to both parties and benefitting the relationship (as opposed

to trying to force the relationship to continue past the point of

infancy, even though I am pro-bf'ing past that point, as long as there

is comfort on both sides). But I think this is a special situation. If

you are up for surgery, especially this " involved, " for lack of a better

word, I am with Jane in that you need all your strength and nutrition to

recover post-op. I feel if you can get through the first couple of

weeks and your child still wants to nurse *after* that period, you may

do so but maybe start to introduce and strengthen other comforting

methods so that you both will be able to make this change more easily.

All the best to you -- you sound like a caring mom.

Robin